Taking advantage of the mild local climate, this year I decided to protect my garden from the frost. In previous years I’d let the plants fend for themselves.
Without taking extraordinary steps I kept it simple and simply domed over the tomatoes with semi opaque (clear would probably do better) plastic from Harbor Freight.
In past years I sometime was able to continue harvesting tomatoes through to the new year before the frost won over. And this was with no effort to protect the plant. At the point of loss, I sometimes had vines full of immature fruit that would be lost. If I can prevent freezing I may be able to have full fresh tomatoes in the spring before other gardeners even get their seedlings into the ground, and have fully mature and productive plants throughout the year.
Today, 6 of December, I harvested tomatoes an peppers.
Now, remember the difference between determinant and indeterminates. Keeping determinants alive will likely not be beneficial.
Also know that covering plants with plastic is not the recommendation for frost protection for plants. My goal is not just keeping them alive but to continue to harvest.
My theory is that the “dome” of plastic will help as a greenhouse allowing needed radiation and warmth that will hopefully allow the fruit to ripen on the vine. I also plan to place a shop light for additional freeze protection.
My peppers are also still active.
